Starting chemo Dec 2007

Elizabeth made it through her six hour surgery.  They removed her spleen, portion of ;pancreas,small portion of small intestine , of course her ovaries.,  lots of  "soft tissue" (not sure what that means, other than the obvious) and six other tumors all size of half dollar (according to Lloyd her husband who is understandably very upset right now.)   We won't be able to talk to her until later in the week but talk daily to Lloyd.  He says she is able to talk a little but extremely weak.  No pain (thank God) due ,to morphine. She had lots of  surgery  in her throracic  sp. region as well.

 I had chemo yesterday (yeah).  No reaction, but did feel a little funny leaving the parking lot.   A little dizzy and a little double vision.  First time I have regretted driving myself, but after a few minutes I felt fine.  Nurse said still low red cell count.  Was up from 8 to 8.9 from last time but should be in high 30s.   So, another big shot.

Today was nulasta and Dr. visit.  He said I was "one tough lady" and congratulated me on getting through it all.  Then he said he had given me all he could for now but said I could not start  rads until I was as healthy as possible  and my my red cell count was too low to begin.  First set back in treatment I have had, so I was surprised.  He said come back to see him in three weeks for another big shot, and possible another one three weeks after that before I can start to think about rads. .I did ask him If that was why I was so tired and he answered very emphatically with a big YES. so maybe now that chemo is over I will begin to feel better.  He also scheduled a pet scan for 22, and I see him on 29.  I am glad for pet scan but already anxious.  At lease if there is anything there it will be caught early as I just had one in June.

I explained to onc. what had happened concerning Elizabeth.  When I got to the part about her having surgery yesterday, he said Oh,no, she should have had chemo first.  There are two new studies out.  That is such a terrible surgery they do, it is called an exonoration.  So now I don't know what to think, except I never did like her having treatment in Daytona Beach.  I lived in that area for twenty years and it just doesn't attract the best of any profession. Lloyd told me yesterday it would be a six to eight month recovery time.  I asked Dr. Kerns if it would be possible for me to have rads down there if she needed me and he said yes.  But I am afraid to, really.  I feel like I am getting such good teatment here.  I will just play it by ear, and see what happens.  They say they have plenty of help lined up.  Also I now have time between shots, once I get over side effects.So maybe we can go down for at least a couple of weeks now and longer period after rads.

Sorry this is is all about me.  Thank you all for your ear, your support, your prayers and just for being here.  My Dh is a very quiet person.  He hears the news about Elizabeth then never says a word about it, until we hear something else.  So I really have no one to talk to and I am so very worried about her.      

 Thanks again, I'll post more soon.

Hope eveyone's tests are B9.  You are all always in my prayers.

Hugs,

Joy 

Suz-- good luck with your MRI tomorrow!

Hugs, Sal 

GOOD NEWS! All is ok, it seems last months mri showed a curled tube or duct that looked like a tumor. They re-adjusted everything on the machine and I got the all clear including NO core biopsy. So needless to say I am so relieved. Thanks so much for your support.

Love and hugs Suz

Joy, this Happy dance is for you completing the worst chemo out of all of us.

Love, Hugs and Lots of rest suz

Hi everyone!  How are you all?  I had my hysterectomy three weeks ago and it was SO much easier than I thought it would be.  Pain afterwards was like my periods, so nothing major.  The best news was all was clear!  The fibroids were just fibroids!  I have so much more energy now that the big mass is gone.  I have a bone scan coming up on the 16th because since radiation I've had a slight pain in my side when I bend.  Keep praying!

 Kate

Congrats Suz!!

And a belated congrats, Kate.

Let's keep the good news comin'!

Hugs, Sal 

Kate, Nice article!  So glad to hear you did well with the hyster.  Did you have the ovaries out also?

I am today going to talk to my onc about the brac gene testing and the ovary removal.  It has come up several times but with chemo and my other surgery it all seems so overwhelming and no one was saying it was a must for me.  I do have a 14 year old daughter though and half of my biological background is unknown so perhaps it is a good idea for the gene test. 

Congrats kate on your success...

 Joy how are you doing???

Shoot!  You know, I don't think I'm getting emails of updates this wekk for this thread   Sorry I missed you gals!

Kate? What did you decide on the BRAC testing?  Are you going to do it? Or do you have to talk with a couselor in it first?  Seems in your situation it would be a good idea, b/c you never know if it comes down one line (mothers') or the others.  I'm thinking it's come down my fathers line, so considering it, b/c there are so few in the family on that side, and most die by 65 or so from one cancer or another.

Has anyone heard from Joy?  I was wondering how she's doing, should be done with treatment, or did she have rads after ? or surgery?  Gosh, I'd forget my name if it weren't on my little heart hanging here, I swear!

I am doing the Brac testing .. talked seriously about it to my dr last weeks visit. Now just waiting for them to call me in for the blood draw.  I have an unknown paternal side so that is why I am doing it.  I am wondering about Joy as well... anyone know how long it takes to get back the BRAC results on average???

Hi ladies. I also am wondering how Joy is doing and am hoping she is just trying to relax and recoup. Also hoping that Suz is still doing well after her surgery.

Guess we're all on the same page... I called to make an appointment with a genetic counselor yesterday. I'm pretty sure that regardless of what the test says, I'll get the surgery done to improve my chances of not getting that cancer, so maybe I'll just skip the test. We'll see what the counselor says.

My sister had the test done last year. I think she said it took about 2 weeks for the results.

Coming up on my "1-year cancer free" anniversary... Nov 13th. My onc said there's no right or wrong way to determine the date... said some do "date of surgery" or "date of last chemo" or "date of last radiation"... for me, it'll be my surgery since I firmly believe that the cancer was completely removed that day. My husband and I are going to go someplace nice for the night to celebrate. Someone asked me if I was going to party it up. I said it'll probably be a bitter-sweet day for me... I'll be thrilled and grateful that I've lived one whole year cancer-free, but I'll also be humbled and saddened to know that not everyone was as lucky as me. Does anyone else have any special plans when her special day arrives?

Big hugs to all of you,

Sal 

Wowzer SUZ!  I think YOUR dh wins the bestest this year with his trip for the two of you! WOW!  All I can think, is WOW!  That' a beautiful ship!  What fun you'll have! I especially like that dining is informal.  I would hate to have to dress up when I'd want to be enjoying a vacation!  I'm so envious! Take a LOT of pics while you are cruising like a queen! Sounds wonderful!

How wonderful for you both!

And glad too, you have the surgery safely behind you and can begin to move on!  You go GIRL!

Very Cool, Sal!  Tomorrow is my 1 yr since the cancer was removed (surgery)  It's so hard to believe what I went through (and all of you) this last year.  Just amazing!

Hi again all!  I only get on here when I get a chance to come to my husband's workplace since my comp is soooo slow.  Anyway, I decided NOT to get the genetic testing.  The kids asked me not to and we really didn't see any reason for it.  You have to understand, though, our family is full of just about every disease out there.  You name it, I can tell you someone in my family that has it.  So we are just going to live live and let life happen.

(((hugs))) to everyone and hope everyone is well.  We actually had some snow this week!! About two inches at our house....I'm so not ready for winter. 

Talk to you soon

Kate

Hello Gals,

It seems all is very quiet lately. I hope everyone is well and coping with all the significant dates that we're hitting.

Hard to believe but its less than a week before dh and I hit the high seas  Ive been staying busy with chores, paperwork and errands. Lol, my only problem seems to be finding a pair of flip flops that fit well in a normal color. I can handle that... am also debating on whether or not to get a haircut before we go. Not sure what they could do with this unruly mop. It took so long to grow it to this length, I dont trust anyone to try to shape it yet..... hmmm 6 days to make that decision and Im burying my head in the sand.

Joy hope all is ok with you, your finished chemo now I believe and should be getting ready for rads. Also how is Elizabeth? You mentioned that you might go down to Daytona to be with her. Have you both in my prayers. Touch base when you can.

Same to the rest of you, how is everyone??

Love light and lots of hugs, Suz

Whhooo hooo Amy!  So glad you hit your 1st also. Mine was the 25th.  dsis, the one who she and her 2 sons had shaved their heads in support sent a beautiful vase of miniature roses, carnations and other flowers. Literally dozens of roses. I just was floored.  Had to work that night, so no celebrations, but was very surprised a year had gone by already!

SUZ! I'm so envious! I've had mine trimmed twice already and ready for another. First was very minor touch up. She just trimmed a few that were flipping weird ways and taught me how to deal with bangs (which I've never had) and a cowlick <sp?>) I've never known I had either!  Weird hair right now. The curls are relaxing from the weight of growth and then others are staying fairly tight...never know what it will look like week to week.  I'm think in another week, I'm going to be getting another trim, b/c it's starting to hang weird again  

Make sure you share pics of your trip so we can live vicariously through you!